In a recent interview, Robert De Niro’s daughter Airyn spoke candidly about coming out as trans and her journey to embracing her identity.

29-year-old Airyn De Niro is the daughter of two prominent celebrities, who wanted to keep her out of the spotlight from a young age. A famous actor, her father Robert De Niro received nine Oscar nominations, winning two of the awards. He has appeared in over 120 projects, most famously in films like The Godfather Part II (1974) and Taxi Driver (1976). Her mother, Toukie Smith, is a model and actor.

In an extensive interview with Them, published on April 29, Airyn De Niro spoke about coming out as trans, sharing that Halle Bailey’s live-action adaptation The Little Mermaid in 2023 had a huge impact. She recalled making her first appointment at a Black hair salon and deciding to take a step toward liberatory gender expression after seeing Bailey’s in the film.

“It just felt right,” she said about her pink locs during the interview. “I feel like I’m meant to be doing this.”

“I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence Black women have had on me,” De Niro explained. “I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”

 

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De Niro also spoke about the impact that seeing successful trans women being open about their transitions had on her own coming. “Trans women being honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success… I’m like, you know what? Maybe it’s not too late for me. Maybe I can start.”

She shared that she looks up to her mother, Toukie Smith, a lot. “The way [my mom] would conduct or hold herself, the way that I saw her interact with others in public when I was younger, I see myself emulating that in some way,” she said. “Whether it’s just turning on the charm or not putting on a mask, but wanting to be feminine in a way that’s inviting and warm and welcoming.”

Speaking about coming out publicly as trans as the daughter of two famous people, she said: “There’s a difference between being visible and being seen. I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”

 

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Discussing what the future holds for her, she said: “I’d want to hopefully be an inspiration for at least one other person like me who is Black, who is queer, who’s not a size extra small. I’d want to see more trans women, more Black women who are maybe bigger-bodied or don’t fit the mold of super thin or heroin chic.”

“I want queer people of color and bigger-bodied people to have an Alex Consani. I want queer people of color and bigger-bodied people to have a Hunter Schafer,” she contiued. “A part of me has always wanted to model and sort of follow my mom’s footsteps. Honestly, if I could be on the cover of Vogue with her or recreating one of her pictures, that would be a dream come true.”

“I wish people saw someone who is trying their hardest to heal from growing up not feeling good about themselves,” she concluded. “[And] in the process of that, trying to make other people feel good about themselves.”

 

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